Heavy Security Presence in Tehran on Qods Day | Links to News on Karroubi Attack

Basij Members Attack Woman and Man Outside Karroubi’s Residence

Saham News:According to eye witnesses, Basij members severely beat a woman on the night of September 2nd outside Mehdi Karroubi’s residence. The Basij members also pulled off the woman’s chador (garment worn for covering the hair and body). Saham News reports that the reason for the attack seems to be that the woman was using her mobile phone. The woman’s husband was severely beaten by special unit forces when he came to defend his wife. They were both arrested and put into a van. The husband and wife are the family of a martyr.

Heavy Security Presence in Tehran

Iran Press News: Since this morning very large numbers of special unit and plainclothes forces and Basiji motorcyclists were positioned in the streets of Tehran. They were mainly spotted under Karimkhan bridge, Pich-e Shemrun Street, Vali-Asr intersection, Vali-Asr and Hafte-Tir squares, and Enghelab Street to Imam Hossein Street until Enghelab Square. All the Basij members are wearing black shirts and so are selected members of the special unit and plainclothes forces. Many Basij forces are stationed with their cars in alleyways waiting to attack if necessary.

Several People Arrested in Tehran

HRANA: Due to the heavy security presence [in Tehran], large gatherings did not take place, however several people were arrested. A young man with a green ribbon tied around his head was also arrested on East Side Square and taken into custody by security forces.

MORE ON THE ATTACK ON MEHDI KARROUBI’S RESIDENCE:

[nggallery id=35]

VIDEO | Mehdi Karroubi’s residence after the attack

THE LATEST

Hossein Karroubi: “The residence is completely blockaded. Our neighborhood is now just like the desert of Karbala (where Imam Hossein was martyred after being denied of water for days) and the occupied Palestine. The building is completely surrounded. There were gun shots fired directly at the building. The bodyguards in return fired some warning shots. All windows of the building are broken. They shot all the street lights in the alley with guns. Apparently some people were also injured and the ambulance took them away.”

Mehdi Karroubi’s residence was once again brutally attacked by Basij thugs. Following Fatemeh Karroubi’s open letter of protest to Ayatollah Khamenei and as a result of the government’s fear of Karroubi’s potential attendance at Qhods Day demonstrations, a large number of organized Basij thugs gathered outside the Karroubi residence from around 10:00pm Tehran time.

You know us well. You are aware that during the years of struggle and pain, my husband, a long time friend of the Imam, the late father of sheikh Ahmad, fought on the front lines, was repeatedly arrested by the Savak, imprisoned and sent to exile. During all that time, not once was the comfort and wellbeing of our family attacked by the Savak or any agents belonging to the previous regime. Mr. Karroubi has repeatedly stated that he is willing to pay any price for this difference of opinion and view point. During this time, my children and I have endured much hardship and oppression. However, depriving us of prayer and imposing anxiety upon our neighbors during this sacred month of Ramadan is not only unacceptable but also intolerable. I have sought to find a similar incident in other countries, but have not been successful to date…Do you, as the head of this regime, find this type of destruction and inappropriate behavior acceptable, legal, or legitimate?

September 2, 2010 | Interview with Mehdi Karroubi following the attacks on his residence

Hossein Karroubi: “They launched their attack with the slogan, ‘We’re ready to obey your orders, Khamenei!'” the younger Karrubi said in the immediate wake of the incident. “They set the door to the house on fire — it is still burning. They wanted to enter the house but the guards opened fire to scare them. I think several of them were injured. They were forced to retreat.”